Khune Critiques Broos' Tactics After Loss

Former Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Itumleng Khune questioned Hugo Broos' tactics following their opening match defeat to co-hosts Mexico. The Belgian coach opted for a 3-5-2 formation to counteract Mexico's style, but the decision backfired, as the co-hosts took an early lead with a goal from Julian Quinones following a blunder by Sphephelo Sithole.

The situation worsened when Sithole received a red card in the second half, allowing Raul Jimenez to score Mexico’s second goal. Throughout the match, Bafana managed only two shots on target, which led Khune to express his concerns regarding Broos' approach and team selection after the game.

"It's not the result we were expecting and the performance, of course," he commented on SABC1. "The guys could've done better. But I think coach Hugo Broos started negatively, the way we started playing, the formation.

"Towards the dying minutes of the game when he put in Makgopa, I think it’s exactly how we should’ve started because we were playing with two strikers, a pacy striker and a tall striker.

"If we had started with Makgopa, those flick-ons, I think Rayners would’ve had chances to run behind the defense and keep the goalkeeper busy, because the keeper only made that one save from Mbokazi in the first half and the rest watching."